Late offense rescues Catamounts vs. UConn

Catamount defenseman Yvan Pattyn (15) and Umass-Lowell forward Michael Colantone (24) battle for the puck during the men's hockey game between UMass Lowell and Vermont at Gutterson Fieldhouse earlier this season.(Photo: BRIAN JENKINS/ for the FREE PRESS)

HARTFORD, Conn. - Third-period offense from unusual sources propelled the University of Vermont past Connecticut on Saturday and into the Hockey East quarterfinals.

Captain Yvan Pattyn’s first goal in over three years and another by recent lineup returnee Brian Bowel wiped out a one-goal deficit and the Huskies, 4-3, to take the first-round series in two straight.

Vermont won Friday’s opening game, 2-1.

Pattyn’s top corner shot tied the game 3-3 at 9:45 of the third. Bowen, aided by the stick of a defender, struck with 1:19 left in regulation for Vermont’s fourth win in four games against UConn this season.

This victory was the most important of the four since the Catamounts advance to the best-of-3 quarterfinal series next weekend against either top-seeded Boston College or No. 2 Providence. If Merrimack wins the decisive third game against New Hampshire on Sunday, UVM heads to BC; a UNH win Sunday sends Vermont to Providence.

With UVM trailing 3-2 after a difficult second period Saturday, UVM coach Kevin Sneddon reminded his players about the importance of getting opportunities on goal. Pattyn, who last scored in December of 2012, responded while Bowen’s shot struck the stick of UConn’s Max Letunov and ricocheted back left, catching goalie Rob Nichols (28 saves) moving the wrong way.

“It was a huge goal for us,” Sneddon said. “(The game) had all the feeling of going into overtime.

“That line was just put together this weekend and they came up with two of the goals this weekend,” Sneddon said of Bowen, Rob Darrar and Kevin Irwin. “We were trying to find a little more offense and they played a great weekend for us.

“Sometimes in playoffs, everyone has a role to play, but with line matching and so much at stake, it might be the third line that does it. (Friday) night, Rob Darrar gets the winning goal. Tonight, Bowen does. and Yvan’s goal, talk about a laser beam.”

UConn took a 1-0 lead at 8:42 of the first on the first of two goals by Karl El-Mir, but UVM surged ahead on a rare power play goal, this one by Mario Puskarich at 12:12, and Conor O’Neil’s deflection off a UConn skate at 15:13. O’Neil’s goal withstood a video review to see if the puck had cross the line before UVM’s sliding Brady Shaw knocked the net loose.

The second was the Huskies’ period as El-Mar burned the defense and beat UVM goalie Mike Santaguida (24 saves) short-side at 2:18 and Tage Thompson scored his 13th power play goal — he has 14 goals — during a lengthy two-man advantage at 7:35.

“We took a not wise penalty in the offensive zone to give them a man-up and quickly take another penalty for really a 2-minute power play,” Sneddon said. “Fortunately we gave up only one on that.”

Then Pattyn and Bowen took a step forward and Vermont has another weekend of hockey remaining.

“To be down one in the third period on the road against a team fighting for their lives, I can’t say enough about the character and heart in our locker room,” Sneddon said.

“Tonight was a great game for both teams. Every student-athlete left it all out there. Fortunately, it was a great bounce for us.”

Correspondent Ted Ryan contributed to this report. Contact him at TedRyanVT@aol.com and follow him on Twitter at @TedRyanVT.